The Lazare Institute of Biomimetics announces a new course entitled “Bio-emulated Indirect Restorations” to be held on August 8, 2014, from 8am to 5pm at the Jason J. Kim Aesthetics facility at 5 Harbor Park Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050. The featured speaker is Dr. David Gerdolle, instructor of biomimetics and bio-emulation in Switzerland.

The course discussion will focus on direct situations (when decayed, broken, or worn teeth can and should be restored) and biomimetic dentistry, which is dedicated to preserving living tooth structure for as long as possible.

Other topics will include:

- Ultimate isolation techniques for indirect preparation and cementation

- Bio-emulation principles in relationship to tooth preparation, immediate dentin sealing, and deep margin elevation

- Impression techniques and temporization solutions

- Shade selection options

- Day-to-day protocols for cementation procedures

The fee for the course is $295, and participants can earn 8 AGD credits.

For more information, including payment options, contact the Lazare Institute

at (212)-861-2599 or Sure Business Logic, Inc. at sblogic@optimum.net.

To register for the course, please go to: https://www.taubdental.com/Eblasts/Lazare/Lazare_Lecture2014_Gerdolle_temp.cfm

Chicago (July 1, 2014) — The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) continues to advocate for the development and implementation of new oral healthcare workforce models that will benefit the public, and improve its oral and overall health. Dental hygienists, with their formal education and the licensure requirements necessary in each state to provide care, are well prepared to assist in preventing oral health diseases. And with more than 185,000 dental hygienists licensed in the United States, the profession is ready and available to meet this growing need.

“Dental hygienists are educated, licensed and prepared to be a part of the solution,” said ADHA President Kelli Swanson Jaecks, RDH, MA. “We know that the public will benefit from a provider who can provide both preventive and specified restorative services.”

On June 30, 2014, The Pew Charitable Trusts released a report that included examples of mid-level dental providers in Minnesota and Alaska performing routine preventive and restorative care to underserved populations, and the benefits those services could have nationwide to those requiring oral health care. The state of Maine also recently passed legislation allowing a dental hygienist or an independent practice dental hygienist to become a dental hygiene therapist. Maine and Minnesota, as well as tribal lands in Alaska, have moved forward to address their access to care challenges and now recognize these oral health workforce models.

Currently, 37 states allow the public to directly access the oral health care services of a dental hygienist in at least one practice setting. In some states, such as California, a dental hygienist with an advanced license can work under remote supervision to perform a variety of services in schools and nursing homes, including X-rays, sealants, and interim therapeutic restorations. The state of Oregon has a similar allowance. Several states, including Washington, New Mexico, Kansas and Vermont, are currently deliberating dental hygiene-based mid-level workforce proposals that would allow registered dental hygienists with additional education and experience the opportunity to help meet the public’s oral health needs. New Hampshire and North Dakota are among states that are studying alternative workforce models.

“The profession of dental hygiene is on the cusp of transformation and is committed to improving access to oral health care through the integration of dental hygienists into the health-care delivery system as essential primary care providers.” added Swanson Jaecks. “The ADHA supports oral health-care workforce models that culminate in graduation from an accredited institution, professional licensure and direct access to patient care.”

Bridgewater, New Jersey, July 1, 2014 – Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, OraPharma, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on oral health, have announced the acquisition of Onpharma, Inc., a pioneer in dental anesthetics. Onpharma’s Onset^® provides precision buffering of local anesthesia chairside, which allows dentists to administer the drug and perform procedures without ever leaving the patient.

This acquisition enables OraPhama’s strong network of local representatives to make Onset^® available and provide support to dental professionals throughout the country, giving dentists and their patients expanded access to this leading anesthetic technology.

“We are thrilled to announce this acquisition as a testament to our continued commitment in advancing oral health care and in offering professionals a comprehensive line of advanced dental care products,” said Steve Sembler, President of OraPharma. “We feel strongly that Onpharma’s Onset^® anesthesia technology is a leap forward in both practice efficiency and patient care.”

Along with OraPharma’s existing product offerings, including ARESTIN^®, this purchase further positions the organization as the premier dental specialty company with a central focus on both the oral health professionals and patients.

Matt Stepovich, President and CEO of Onpharma said, “We’re excited that becoming part of OraPharma will help us continue our mission to transform dentistry.  Our team is dedicated to a seamless transition and current customers can continue to contact us by calling 877-33-ONSET with any questions.”

INTELIHEALTH - Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have poorer oral health than other children, says a study from Egypt.

Researchers compared 100 children with ASD and 100 children without the condition. Children with ASD did not have more tooth decay than other children. But they did have more plaque on their teeth and poorer gum health. Children with ASD also were more likely to grind their teeth.

Children with ASD were less likely to cooperate during the dental exam. About 48% of children with ASD were uncooperative, compared with 13% of other children.

The researchers also asked about access to dental care. Caregivers of children with ASD were more likely to report problems getting care.

The National Center for Dental and Craniofacial Research says that most people with mild or moderate forms of autism can be treated successfully by general dentists. People with more severe forms of autism may need specialized care.

ASD is an umbrella term for a group of conditions. They include autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). All of these conditions can present behavioral and social challenges. Several of them used to be diagnosed separately.

ASD is about 5 times more common in boys than in girls. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1 of every 68 children has been diagnosed with ASD.

The study appears in the July issue of the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry.

Source: InteliHealth News Service

John C. Kois, DMD, MSDhas been selected as the Dr. Thaddeus V. Weclew Awardee of the Academy of General Dentistry. The award is given in tribute to professional dedication to the highest standards of patient care through continuing dental education and outstanding achievement in support of the Academy’s mission to foster continued proficiency among general dentists in all aspects of dentistry,

Dr. Kois is Director of the Kois Center (Seattle, WA), which is dedicated to advancing dentistry through science, using a variety of high technological teaching modalities. Dr. Kois lectures nationally and internationally and serves as the Co-Editor in Chief of the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry.

Dr. Weclew is revered as the Academy’s founding father. The Academy of General Dentistry was founded in 1952 to serve the needs and to represent the interests of general dentists and to foster their continued proficiency through quality continuing dental education to better serve the public.

Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Forsyth Institute are pleased to announce a joint Research Academy, which will offer an unparalleled 3-year (minimum) structured doctor of medical sciences (DMSc-only) research-intensive degree in oral biology. Under the mentorship of world-renowned scientists, participants will undertake an intensive research training experience in laboratories at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) or Forsyth.

The goal of the program is to train academic researchers in oral and craniofacial biology and skeletogenesis in the best possible scientific environment, and thus provide superior research leadership to institutions and countries around the globe. The program will include required coursework, laboratory rotations, a qualifying examination, and a thesis proposal and will culminate in a rigorous DMSc dissertation. Coursework will include a core of HSDM courses, including research methods, biochemistry, biostatistics, genetics, cell and molecular biology, and seminar presentations. In addition, each student will take elective courses in disciplines relevant to the student’s research theme.

The program will commence in summer 2015 and is offered to candidates who hold an MD, DMD, or equivalent degree; have taken the GRE; and have obtained a TOEFL score of at least 95. The application deadline is December 15, 2014, with a program start date of July 1, 2015. The application will be available online at https://www.adea.org/PASSapp/

Contact

Giuseppe Intini, DDS, PhD, Program Director

Assistant Professor

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

188 Longwood Avenue, REB 405

Boston, MA 02115

617-432-5912

E-mail

Beate Lanske, PhD, Codirector

Professor

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

188 Longwood Ave, REB 303

Boston, MA 02115

617-432-5748

E-mail

A collaboration between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health will give NIH-funded researchers training to help them evaluate their scientific discoveries for commercial potential, with the aim of accelerating biomedical innovations into applied health technologies.

I-Corps at NIH is a pilot of the NSF Innovation Corps  (I-Corps) program specially tailored for biomedical research. Academic researchers and entrepreneurs with Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I awards – awards that establish feasibility of proof of concept for commercializable technology – from participating NIH institutes will be eligible to apply to I-Corps at NIH. NIH will begin outreach to the small business research community with a June 25 program briefing at the 2014 BIO International Convention in San Diego, and a webinar on July 2.

The I-Corps Teams curriculum is a nine-week boot camp in which experienced business-savvy instructors work closely with teams of researchers to help them explore potential markets for their federally funded innovations. I-Corps instructors take a scientific method-based approach to customer discovery that resonates with scientists and engineers. While I-Corps instructors typically have a wide range of expertise, I-Corps at NIH will be taught by instructors who have biomedical business experience.

Providing tools for prospective entrepreneurs

The NIH institutes that will participate in the pilot program are the National Cancer Institute, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

Michael Weingarten, director of the NCI SBIR Development Center, said he and his colleagues initially reached out to NSF because they witnessed the difference I-Corps made for the graduates. To date, more than 300 three-person teams have completed the NSF I-Corps training, including those supported by the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency.

“I-Corps will help teach NIH-funded start-ups how to build scalable business models around new technologies they’re developing for the detection and treatment of disease. The program sheds new light on how companies can deal with important business risks such as protecting intellectual property, and developing regulatory and reimbursement strategies,” Weingarten said.

I-Corps will supplement SBIR/STTR awardees’ scientific skills through real time interactions with over 100 potential customers to validate their technology’s market potential. The 24 selected teams will receive supplemental funding from NIH to support entrepreneurial training, mentorship and collaboration opportunities.

“This new collaboration with NIH is further evidence of the flexibility and efficacy of the I-Corps model,” said Pramod Khargonekar, NSF assistant director for engineering . “Translating basic biomedical research to the marketplace has its own particular set of challenges, which we recognize. By focusing and adapting the I-Corps curriculum to the life sciences, we expect biomedical researchers will be better-equipped to enter the business arena.”

NIH awards more than $700 million in SBIR/STTR research and development awards each year. “This pilot will leverage NIH’s robust SBIR/STTR program and further NIH’s mission to advance our understanding of human illness and treatment of disease and disability,” said NIH SBIR/STTR program coordinator Matthew Portnoy. “We look forward to this collaborative endeavor with NSF.”

A sustainable innovation ecosystem

The I-Corps network continues to undergo strategic expansion.

In addition to the pilot, existing NIH-funded programs can apply to become new NSF I-Corps sites to broaden the I-Corps network. These programs include the NIH Centers for Accelerated Innovation and Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs, which focus on academic researchers with technologies that have not yet led to the formation of a startup or have been licensed by an existing company.

All people and organizations involved in I-Corps become part of the NSF-established National Innovation Network , a nationwide web created to leverage the community that has developed among the grantees to increase the program's impact.

NCI will lead outreach to the small business community in coming weeks, beginning with a briefing on the program at the 2014 BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, on June 25 from 2-3 p.m. PDT in San Diego and a webinar on July 2. Steve Blank, a serial entrepreneur and academic who developed the original course which I-Corps is based on, will participate in both events.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. https://www.nsf.gov .

I-Corps is a common law trademark of the National Science Foundation.

ROSEMONT, Ill., June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new position paper on Medication Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) released by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, expands the scope of the condition previously referred to as Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (BRONJ) and changes its name to reflect the antiresorptive (denosumab) and antiangiogenic therapies that have recently been associated with the condition.

In addition to changing the name of the condition, the MRONJ position paper provides guidance to:

1. physicians, dentists, dental specialists, and patients in making medical decisions relating to the risk of developing MRONJ, as well as the risks and benefits of those medications related to osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ);

2. clinicians regarding diagnosis of MRONJ in patients with a history of exposure to antiresorptive and/or antiangiogenic agents; and to

3. clinicians regarding MRONJ prevention measures and management strategies for patients with MRONJ, based on their disease stage.

MRONJ appears as a non-healing exposed bone in the mouth and may affect patients undergoing intravenous cancer-related therapy, or more rarely, patients treated with oral or IV bisphosphonates for osteoporosis.

Written by the members of the distinguished AAOMS Special Committee that prepared previous position papers on BRONJ in 2006 and 2009, the new MRONJ paper contains revisions to diagnosis, staging, and management strategies, and highlights the status of current research relating to this condition. 

In order to distinguish Medication Related ONJ from other delayed healing conditions and to address concerns about under-reporting of the disease, the new position paper redefines the diagnosis characteristics of MRONJ as follows:

Patients may be considered to have MRONJ if all of the following characteristics are present:

1. Current or previous treatment with antiresorptive or antiangiogenic agents;

2. Exposed bone or bone that can be probed through an intraoral or extraoral fistula(e) in the maxillofacial region that has persisted for more than eight weeks; and

3. No history of radiation therapy to the jaws or obvious metastatic disease to the jaws.

The majority of patients on antiresorptive or antiangiogenic therapy who experience MRONJ do so following a dental procedure, such as a tooth extraction. Therefore if systemic conditions permit, the position paper suggests that the start of antiresorptive therapy should be delayed until the patient's dental health is optimized. The MRONJ position paper further recommends that patients who are about to be prescribed antiresorptive or antiangiogenic therapy should undergo a thorough oral examination and a radiographic assessment when indicated in order to identify both acute infection and sites of potential infection that could be exacerbated once drug therapy begin. The paper cautions that any decisions relating to drug therapy must be made in conjunction with the treating physician, dentist and other specialists involved in caring for the patient.

MRONJ is painful and difficult to treat. While osteonecrosis of the jaw has been recognized by dental and medical practitioners for many years, the identification of bisphosphonates as a contributory factor to the condition was first reported by oral and maxillofacial surgeons about 10 years ago when they noticed an increase in the number of patients exhibiting the signs of ONJ. A review of these cases indicated that bisphosphonate therapy was a common thread.

In 2006, the AAOMS appointed the Special Committee on BRONJ to review the existing literature and prepare a position paper that synthesized the findings for the dental and medical communities. This Special Committee was reconstituted in 2009 and again in 2013 to review current research findings. The 2014 Position Paper on Medication Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws offers the most recent and up to date diagnosis and treatment information to dental and medical professionals, clinicians and patients.

The complete 2014 MRONJ Position Paper is available at aaoms.org.

CHICAGO (July 30, 2014) — Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children: The Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and its Access to Care Grants program, was recently recognized as one of ASAE’s 2014 Power of A Gold Awardees. The Power of A Awards recognize a select number of organizations annually that distinguish themselves with innovative, effective and broad-reaching programs and activities that positively impact America and the world.

ASAE recognized 23 organizations with a 2014 Power of A Gold Award and another 22 with a Power of A Silver Award this year. The Power of A Awards recognize and celebrate the extraordinary contributions associations make to society by enriching lives, creating a competitive workforce, preparing society for the future, driving innovation and making a better world. ASAE received roughly 100 entries in this year’s awards program.

“Congratulations to this year’s Power of A Award winners for leveraging their resources and coming up with unique, innovative and inspiring ways to benefit not just their own industry or profession, but society at large,” said Paul Pomerantz, CAE, CEO of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and chair of the Power of A Awards Judging Committee. “This year, our committee had an exceptionally strong group of entries to consider, and it’s heartening to see so many organizations excelling in their work. Associations have great stories to share about their industries and professions, and it’s with great pleasure and pride that we recognize their efforts through the Power of A Awards.”

“We deeply appreciate this honor from such an influential organization as ASAE,” stated HSHC President Beverly A. Largent, DMD.  “Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children is committed to supporting community-based initiatives providing Dental Homes to every child in the country currently lacking one, which is the centerpiece of HSHC’s mission.  To date, more than 118,000 children have been helped by HSHC grantees and through multiple affiliations.  HSHC has released more than $1.8 million in grants and commitments through 51 grants to 48 local agencies and dental clinics in 18 states since 2010 (including 2014 commitments).”

CHICAGO – Patients’ natural teeth can be saved with the help of a new and improved clinical resource, Treatment Options for the Compromised Tooth: A Decision Guide. The larger, full color Guide developed by the American Association of Endodontists includes 13 new cases and more than 100 images demonstrating successful endodontic treatment in difficult clinical situations. The Guide is designed to encourage dentists to assess all possible endodontic treatment options before recommending extraction of a compromised tooth.

"The longer term challenges of tooth loss and replacement are becoming more and more apparent,” said AAE President Dr. Robert Roda. “The AAE's revised Treatment Options Guide is a critical resource for the clinical practitioner who wants to save the natural tooth.”

The Guide helps dentists evaluate a variety of conditions using case examples with radiographs and clinical photographs, clinical considerations, and guidance for successful outcomes based on prognosis. It also aims to increase collaboration between general dentists and endodontists to work as partners to develop treatment plans that could save the natural tooth.

"This unique guide offers clinicians a systematic step-by-step approach to the clinical decision process for challenging endodontic cases. It should be a companion in everyone’s operatory,” said Dr. Yakir Arteaga, a general dentist in New York City. “It offers useful, workable, practical information and recommendations covering many aspects of endodontic care.”

The new Treatment Options for the Compromised Tooth: A Decision Guide is available as a free PDF download or for purchase from the AAE website at www.aae.org/treatmentoptions. The entire dental community, including general dentists and specialists, office staff, educators and students are encouraged to use the Guide in treatment planning and communication with patients.